Machine for treating hides, skins, and leather



c. D. KNowLToN ETAL 2,359,922

Oct. 1Q, 1944.

MAQHINE FOR TREATING HIDES, SKINS AND LEATHER Filed Aug. 24, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet l Oct 10 1944 c. D. KNowLroN :TAL 2,359,922

MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDES, SKINS AND LEATHER Filed Aug. 24, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 c. D. KNowLToN l-:TAL 2,359,922

MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDES, SKINS AND LEATHER Filed Aug. 24, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. I0, 1944.

Oct. 10, 1944. c. D. KNowL'roN ETAL MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDEs, SKINS AND LEATHER Filed Aug. 24, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDES, SKINS AND LEATHER Filed Aug. 24. 1942 8 Shets-Sheet 5 NVE/vn? 5 Oct. 10, 1944. c. D. KNowLToN ET Al. 2,359,922

MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDES,

SKINS AND LEATHER Filed Aug. 24, 1942 B Sheets-Sheet 6 Oct 10, 1944- c. D. KNowLToN ET Ar. 2,359,922

MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDES, SKINS AND LEATHER 8 Sheets-Sheet 'Y Filed Aug. 24. 1942 c. D. KNowL'roN x-:TAL 2,359,922

Oct. 10, 1944.

MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDEs,

SKINS AND LEATHER Filed Aug. 24, 1942 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Oct. 10, 19444 MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDES, SKINS,

AND LEA.

TUER

Cutler D. Knowlton, Rockport, and David Edgar.

Lynn, Mass., asslgnors to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 24, 1942, Serial No. 455,902

(Cl. Gil-34) 21 Claims.

This invention relat to machines for treating hides, skins and leather. While the invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine for performing staking operations upon tanned hides and skins, it is to be understood that ln various novel and useful aspects the invention is not limited to use in machines of the illustrated type.

Staking machines of the type now used in tanneries of this and other countries commonly einploy a blade and cooperating members for bending a certain limited portion of the hide or skin over the blade, in an arrangement in which there is relative movement between the blade and the work piece in one direction to effect staking treatment of such limited hide or skin portion With such a machine, the work must be shifted and reintroduced into the grip of the blade and its cooperating members for treatment of an ad jacent portion of the work piece, these operations being repeated many times to complete treatment of the whole surface oi the work piece.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine for aiding the operator in spreading out work pieces to be treated and for treating both sides of a given work piece throughout the full length or width dimension thereof at one introduction into the machine, completion of the treatment of such Work p iece being accomplished by reversing it and introducing it a second time for the treatment of the part remaining untreated after the first machine operation. It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine to spread outl work pieces to be treated and whereby an operator may initiate the treatment of a given work piece when satisiled that such work piece is adequately spread out. Further objects of the invention are to provide a highly eicient machine of simple construction for performing staking operations upon hides. and skins, it being understood that machines embodying the same principles of construction may ilnd other uses and applications, such, for instance, as in brushing and buinng operations.

Another feature oi the invention resides in the special work feeding means provided for controlling the rate of feed of the work piece to and from the treating tools by which a yielding holdi'ng pressure is maintained on the same small area of the work piece during such feed and which means permits treatment of both sides of the work piece by the tools. In the illustrated construction, the work, feeding means comprises a conveyor belt for supporting a work piece in extended condition in an arrangement in which said conveyor belt is spaced with respect to work treating members and has its operative work supporting run ending closely adjacent to said members and to the treatment zone between them. It follows that the work piece is introduced into the work treating members in such manner that it may be subjected to treatment upon both surfaces thereof. ment is specially useful in staking operations where the hide or skin must be bent repeatedly and sharplyabout the edges of blades to secure softening and stretching thereof.

A special feature of the invention is the combination of a feeding conveyor belt, means to clamp a work piecerthereon, and two meshing work rolls, the conveyor belt being arranged to feed the work piece to the bite of the rolls first in one direction and then in the other direction giving double treatment to both sides of the work piece.

Still another feature of the invention is incorporated in the bladed work treating rolls which are arranged to mesh witheach other, one of said rolls being covered with a yielding material and the other having blades of substantial rigidity but with such blades being provided with resilient or yielding means for contacting the Work pieces. This provision is for the purpose of preventing injury to the work pieces and yet permit adequate treatment of them.

Preferably, and as shown. a work clamping device is associated with the conveyor belt to hold the` work piece against displacement relatively to the belt. Conveniently, driving means is pro vided for the belt under the control of the operator so that the belt may be driven to spread out the work piece while one end of the latter is held by the operator. At the proper time the work clamping device is brought into operation to clamp the Work on the conveyor belt, and at the same time the driving means for the belt is disconnected and a driving mechanism for the work clamping device is putinto operation, so that the belt is driven, with the work piece \claxnped thereto, ilrst in one direction and then in the reverse direction by the said driving mechanism.

Another feature of importance resides in the povision of means for automatically releasing the work clamping means when the latter returns to its initial position at the end of the reverse travel of Athe conveyor belt. A simple and efllcient construction for`driving the belt through the work clamping device resides in the provision of endless belts turning about vertical shafts and arranged to be driven by power means under the Such an arrangecontrol of the operator, in an arrangement in which a belt shipper is provided for shifting the drive from suitable power means alternately to the conveyor belt and to the work clamping device.

These and other important features of the inventlon, and novel combinations of parts, will now be described in detail in the specification and then pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a staking machine showing one embodiment oi the invention;

Fig. 2 is a. top plan viewof the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation, on a larger scale, of the left end o! the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a chain drive mechanism, the view being in plan and corresponding to the right sprocket wheel and associated parts adjacent to the belt shipper in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line V-V of Fig. 4:

Fig. 6 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of the `right end of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 'I is a detail of the work clamping device and oi' the cam mechanism for operating the belt shipper;

Fig. 8 is a detail of the chain drive for the work clamping slide;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the vertical shaft and associated parts serving as a belt shipper mechanism:

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line X-X oi Fig. 12;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of the lower end of the ratchet shaft shown in Fig. 9:

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line XII-XII oi Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view along the line XIII-XIII of F18. 9;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV of Fig. 9;

Fig. 15 is a view of the cooperating bladed members which operate upon the work;

Fig. i6 is a detail view of a modification of the lower rotary work treating member showing a specially constructed yielding surface for accommodating variations in the thickness of the work iece; p Fig. 17 is a view similar to that of Fig. 16 showing still another species of a yielding surface: and

Fig. 1s is a somewhat diagrammatic end view of the cooperating cylinders shown in Fig. 15.

In the illustrated machine, which is specially designed for staking operations upon. tanned hides and -;kins, there is provided a pair of rotary` work treating members 2li, I2 (Figs. 1, 3 and 15) the upper member 2| having helically arranged blades 2l extending in opposite directions from a substantially central point or line in the length oi the rotary member or cylinder. As will be clearly seen from Fig. 15. the lower work treating or presser member 2! has helically arranged pressure applying ribs 2l which mesh with the helically arranged blades 24 of the work treating member or cylinder 2li. It will be readily understood that a hide or skin, while being drawn through between the work treating members, Il will be thoroughly worked since it is being bent and stretched in many directions due to the interaction oi the helically arranged blades and ribs.

As most clearly shown in Figs. 2. 3 and 15, the work treating roll or cylinder 2U has its shaft 21 mounted in bearings Il carried by brackets 30 at each end of the cylinder 20, said brackets being mounted for adjustment on trame l2 of the machine. the adjustment being accomplished by the provision of slots in the brackets 20 in which are seated bolts N (Fiss. 2 and 3). The lower work treating roll 22 has its shaft 3B mounted at each end in bearings 3B carried at the upper ends of a pair o1 arms 3B (Figs. 1, 3 and 15), each pivoted on a rod 38 the axis of which is indicated at 40 in Figs. l and 3, in an arrangement in which each arm I8 is fastened `to a pipe 4i having flxedly secured to its middle portion (Fig. 15) a downwardly extending lever I2 to the lower end of which is pivoted a link 44 pivoted at its other end to an arm IB secured to a rock shaft 48 having secured to its outer end a second arm lill to the end of which is pivoted a long link or connecting rod 62 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) the other end of which is in turn pivoted to the lower end of a hand lever 5l' (Fig. l) pivoted on the machine frame at the front end thereof. This hand lever 54 has pivoted thereto a holding pawl B6 adapted to engage selectively the teeth on a segment member 58 secured to the machine frame, the pawl 56 being urged continuously in a direction to engage the teeth by a spring 60 in an arrangement in which a manually operable member 62 pivotally mounted on the lever 54 is provided to lift the paw] 56, against the resistance of the spring El), out of engagement with the teeth on the segment 58. In the position of the lever 54 shown in Fig. l, the pawl 56 is in engagement with the next to the last tooth at the right on the segment member Sil with the result that the lower work treating or presser member 22 is held approximately in its highest position with respect to the treating roll or cylinder 20. It will be clear upon inspection of Fig. l that, if the manually operable lever 54 be swung to the left in Fig. 1 to engage a selected tooth substantially midway of the segment 58, the arms 38 will be lowered toward the left in Figs. 1 and 3 thus moving the lower work treating or presser roll 22 away from the upper work treating roll 2U for inspection or repair purposes. It will be understood, furthermore, that movement of the manually operable lever 54 to the left in Fig. 1 to engage the tooth next adjacent to the one shown engaged in Fig. l, will have the eifect of letting the lower work treating roll 22 down slightly with respect to the upper work treating roll to accommodate a batch of hides or skins having a substantially greater thickness dimension than those previously treated.

In order to secure a finer adjustment of the lower roll I! with respect to the upper roll 2li, there is provided an arrangement by which a pivot block vIl (Figs. 1, 2. 8 and 15), having trunnions l5 rotatable in the lower forked end of the lever arm l2, is movable in a direction lengthwise or the link 44 by means oi' a screw member B6 rotatably secured to the said block and having a screw threaded part receivable in a screw threaded socket in the link member 44, said member 8l being operable by a manually movable hand wheel il. This tine adlustment between the lower end of the lever arm I! and the lower end oi the manually operable lever 64 enables the pperator. through his control also of the lever 5C, to make a ilne adjustment oi the work treating rolls Il, I! with respect to each other.

For driving the work treating rolls 20, 22 there is provided, in the illustrative construction (Figs. 1 and 3). a motor 1I mounted low in the frame of the machine and having secured to the armature shaft thereof a pulley 12 about which passes an endless belt 14 which also engages a larger pulley 10 mounted on a shaft 10 carried by bearings in the machine frame. Secured to the shaft 1I is a pinion Il arranged to mesh with a gear 02 secured to a colmtershaft 04 to which is also secured a sprocket wheel l0 about which an endless sr rocket chain 40 arranged t engage a sprocket 00 on the shaft 20 of the lower work treating or presser roll 22, the said sprocket chain also engaging in a reverse turn a sprocket 92 secured to the shaft -21 of the work treating roll 20. As shown, the said sprock-A et chain s alsoengases an idler sprocketA ,I4 carried at the end of an arm .00 pivoted on shaft 00. said shaft being mounted on the machine frame, the said arm 00 having a bracket |00 secured thereto to which is attached one end of. a spring |02 the other end of which is engaged with a screw threaded bolt |04 adjustably mounted in a bracket |00 secured to the machine frame.

being to provide a yielding surface thereby avoiding such pressure or'pinching of the work piece as would tend to injure the same. It will be understood thatthe yielding layer |01 Jalso fur' nishes a certain accommodation for variations in thethickness dimensions of a given batch of hides or skins.

1f desired, yielding'surfaces may be provided on the blades 24 of the upper work Atreating member 20 to cooperate with the felt layer |01 which surrounds the ribs 20 of the lower work treating member 22. As shown. such yielding `surface is provided by a hard and resilient niember |00 (Fig. 16) secured along its inner edge by screws firmly set in small spacer blocks IIS, the arrangement being such vthat a layer of felt H5 of about the same thickness as the spacer blocks H3 may be provided to back the springy member |00 so that the latter may yield and thus avoid undue pressure on any given portion of the work piece. While screws may be used along its outer edge to maintain the member |00 against undue displacement away from the adjacent surf face of the rib 20, the said screws 'do not prevent 'j inward bending of the member |00 upon the yielding felt layer ||5. It will be noted in this connection that only the pressure applying signeface of the ribs 24 areI supplied withthe 4said resilient members |09. If desired, the strips of felt backing ||5 in Fig. 16 maybe omitted. as shown in Fig. 1'1, in which case a springy merriber 4| l1 may be employed, possessing the necessary resilient qualities when usedalone to press upon the work piece yieldingly during treatment thereof. secured to each rib 24 with a spacer block H2 along the inner edge thereof.`

Special means is provided for feeding a tanned hide or skin into place between the work treat- Conveniently the member ||1 is when the chains |00, |10 are driven, the work ing rolls 20. 22. the said means comprising an endless conveyor belt ||0 passing over an idler roll ||2 (Figs. i and 3) mounted in bearings in the machine frame and also over a second idler roll ||4, there being at the front end of the machine still another idler roll I I0 (Figs. l and 6) for the conveyor belt which then passes upwardly to engage a driving roll llt having a shaft ||0 mounted in bearings carried by blocks |20 adiustably secured to the frame of the machine. As shown. the shaft Ill (Figs. 2 and 6) has at one end a sprocket wheel |22 ilxedly se cured thereto about which passes a. sprocket chain |24, the said sprocket chain also passing over a sprocket |20 secured to the end of a shaft |20 to the other end of which is secured a gear |30 in mesh with a pinion |22 secured to a hollowshaft |04 rotatable on a shaft |00 mounted in suitable bearings in the machine frame. Also secured to the hollow shaft |24 is a pulley |20 (Fig. 2) arranged to be driven by a belt |40, the latter normally engaging an idler pulley |42 on the shaft |30, that is, when the conveyor belt is at rest in its initial position. Secured to the shaft |20 is a pulley |44 to which the belt |40 may be shifted when the shaft |30 is to be driven by said belt |40, which at its other end passes around a power pulley |40 (Figs. 1 and 4) fixed to the driven shaft 04.

4The belt driving means described above becomes operative when the belt |40 is shifted from the idler pulley |42 to the pulley |30 which is fixed as before stated to the hollow shaft |34, this shifting of the belt |40 taking place when the operator steps on a treadle |50. While the conveyor belt ||0 is thus being driven, the operator standing at the front of the machine, that is, at the right in Figs. 1 and 2, throws a hide or skin on the surface of said conveyor belt, at the same time holding one end or side edge of the skin, the result being that the hide or skin is spread out quite effectively in extended condition through frictional contact with the upper surface of the traveling belt` As soon as the skin is thus extended, the operator may depress the treadle |00 a second time to initiate driving of the conveyor belt by an entirely separate and distinct mechanism which will move the belt, with a work piece clamped thereto, not only toward the work treating cylinders 20, 22 but also away therefrom, this arrangement having the adifantage of providing for treatment of the work piece while it is moving first in one direction ,i and then in the opposite direction, such double treatment of the work piece being most effective in softening and stretching the hide or skin, in other words, in the staking thereof.

The driving mechanism for the belt mentioned in the preceding paragraph comprises a work clamping device indicated in general by reference character |00 (Fig. 1) mounted on a slide member |0| (Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6) movable back and forth in guideways |02 at the top of the machine frame. This slide comprises spaced bars |04 in the space |00 (Fig. .2) between which is receivable a roll |00 swivelly connected to special links |61 (Fig. 8) secured to an endless Sprocket chain |00. Preferably, and in the construction shown, there are two sprocket chains |00, |10 (Fig. 2), each having secured thereto a roll |00 receivable in the space |00 between the bars |04. It will be readily understood that.

clamping device |00 and slide |0| will bereciprocated back and forth due to the connection between the sprocket chains |08, |10 and the slide member including the bars |54. For driving the sprocket chains |50, |10 there is provided in association with each chain a sprocket wheel |12 and |14, respectively, each secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft one of which is shown at |10 in Figs. 4 and 51for driving the sprocket chain |08. As shown, the shaft |15 has secured thereto a worm gear |10 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) arranged to be constantly in mesh with a worm |80 secured to a stub shaft |02 journaled in bearings provided by the machine frame. the said shaft |82 having secured thereto at one end a sprocket |84 (Fig. 4) about which passes a sprocket chain |80 (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) which also engages a sprocket |90 secured to shaft |34. It will be recalled that shaft is power ,driven through belt |40 when the latter has been shifted to engage pulley |44. The shaft |30 has also secured thereto a second sprocket |82 (Fig. 2) about which passes a sprocket chain |84 shown in Fig. 2 to be longer than the corresponding sprocket chain |88, the arrangement being such that said sprocket chain |84 engages a sprocket |95 (Figs. 2 and 6) on a shaft |88 which is similar to the shaft |80 but is located on the far side of a worm wheel similar in all respects to worm wheel |18 and secured to a vertical shaft 200 (Fig. 2) similar to the shaft |16, the purpose of this arrangement being to rotate the shaft 200 in a direction the reverse of the rotation of shaft |16. In the illustrated construction, the shaft |16 rotates in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 2) and the shaft 200 in a clockwise direction, the result being that the rolls |68 carried by the sprocket chains |65 and |10 move toward each other, in Fig. 2, alongethe space between the. bars |64 at the beginning of the movement by which the work clamping device |00 is moved toward the left in Figs. l and 2. At their other ends, the sprocket chains |68 and |10 engage sprocket wheels 202, 204, respectively (Fig'. 2), the latter being supported on vertical shafts carried by journal bearings supported in the frame of the machine, as indicated in Fig. 1, said bearings being adjustable as indicated at 203 to properly tension the chains |60 and |10. When the rolls |66 turn about the sprocket wheels 202, 204, respectively, they again move lengthwise of the space between the bars |54 of the work clamping device and then, and subsequently, cause the latter to retrace its path to the right in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby the work clamping device is returned to its initial position where the driving means is automatically disconnected, as will be hereinafter described.

The work clamping device |60 includes not only the slide member IBI but also a movable clamping member 2|0 (Figs. 1,6 and 9) mounted at each of its opposite ends on a lever arm 2|2 movable about a pivot pin 2|4, each lever arm also carrying a cam roll 2|! on a shaft 218 which roll is adapted to ride up and down a face cam 2i8 carried by a stationarybracket V220 secured to a post 222 of the machineframe. It will be clear that, as the slide member Iii, 'which serves also as a support for the work clamping device, approaches its extreme right position in Figs. 1 and 6. each roll 2|l rides downwardly along the corresponding cam face 2i! to lift the clamping member 2|0 away from the slide |0i which carries a cooperating work clamping member 224 (Pigs. and 6). 0n the other hand, when the work clamping device, including the slide member |5I, starts moving toward the left in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, each ro1l2|0 rides upwardly along its associated cam face 2li thereby permitting the work clamping member 2|! to descend into work clamping relation with respect to the work clamping member 224 on the body part of the slide |5I.

In the illustrated construction, there is dis- 4 closed a refinement in the lwork clamping means designed to obviate scuing of the surface of the work piece when the latter is engaged by the clamping member 2|0. To this end the member 2|0 is provided with a yielding surface member 230 (Figs. 6 and 9) for direct engagement rwith the surface of the work piece, an additional feature of the construction residing in the provision of s, toggle mechanism as part of the lever arm 2|2 so that the toggle may be broken upon swinging movement of the arm in a laterally upward direction away from the work piece, thereby instantaneously relieving pressure on the work piece and thus avoiding scumng of the surface of the latter. More specifically. the work clamping member 2|0 is pivotally mountedy at 23| on another toggle member 232 constituting part of the lever arm 2 I2 which is pivoted at 2|4. Preferably and as shown, a spring 234 is interposed between adjacent parte of the toggle links 2|.. 232, said spring being adjustable as to tension (as indicated) and being operative to hold an edge portion of the member 2|0 against a shoulder 23B on the arm 2|2. If the member 230 should bind on the surface of the work piece, when the arm 2|2 starts to swing upwardly, the spring 234 will yield breaking the toggle and shortening the distance between the face of the member 230 and the pivot 2|4, thus relieving the pressure.

As heretofore indicated, the independent driving means and mechanism for the conveyor belt ||0 and for the work clamping device |50, includingu the slide member |5i, are controlled Vby the single treadle |50 (Fig. 1) through the operation of which the driving belt |40 (Fig. 2) is shifted from the idler pulley |42 to the pulley |38 for directly driving the conveyor belt ||0 and subsequently from the pulley |38 directly to the pulley |44 when the operator decides to drive the conveyor belt ||0 through the work clamping means by which both a given work piece and the belt ||0 are clamped to the slide |6| and moved together rst toward the work treating rolls or cylinders 20, 22 and then away therefrom to secure double treatment of a given portion of said work piece.

In order that the treadle |50 may accomplish the desired shifting of the belt |40, the treadle is operatively connected to a vertically arranged shipper shaft 250 (Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 9) the latter carrying iixedly secured thereto a shipper arm 252 provided with fingers 254 (Fig. 2) which engage opposite edges of the belt |40. As shown,

the upper end of the treadle lever |50 is pivotally connected to a shaft 250 by an adjustabiy extensible link 200 (Fig. 14) having one end pivoted to the treadle and its other end swlvelly connected to the under surface of a sprocket wheel 282 (Figs. 9 and 14), the said sprocket wheel being xed to said vertical shaft 258 'which is rotatable in bearings provided in the machine frame. Passing around the sprocket wheel 252 is a sprocket chain 250 which also engages a sprocket 250 secured to a sprocket shaft 250 (Fig.

11) which shaft is vertically supported for rotation in parallelism with the shipper shaft 250 and the slide member |66'return to the position shown in axial alinement with a vertical cam shaft 216, in an arrangement in which the sprocket shaft 266 is`integral with a disk212 rotatable about the axis of the shaft 216 and having pivoted thereto a pawl 214 held yleldingly in engagement with a ratchet disk 216 fixed to shaft 216 and having two oppositely extending ratchet teeth 216 and 266 for selective Vengagement "by said pawi 214. When the treadle I 66 is depressed for the first time, that is, whenthe conveyor belt i|6 is at rest. the pawl 214 is caused to move along the surface of the ratchet disk 216, through a 90 arc, until it engages the tooth 216 and thereafter moves the said disk 216 through 90". this movement bringlng the Itooth 266 to a position just in front of the pawl 214 when the latter returns to its initial position shown in Fig. 14. This return movement of the pawl is accomplished by a spring 262 (Figs. 1 and 6) which pulls the treadle lever |66 back to its initial position, thereby 'returning the @rocket wheel 262 and the parts operatively connected thereto to the position shown in Fig. 14. Connected to the lower end of the shaft 216 is an eccentric cam 266 (Figs. 1l, l2 and 13) movable in an eccentric strap 262 serving as part of a link member 264, the outer end of which is pivoted at 266 to a lever member 266 fixed to the shipper shaft 266. Hence, when the treadle |66 is nrst depressed by the operator to start driving of the conveyor belt I|6, the shipper shaft is rotated in a clockwise direction in Figs. 2 and l2, thus effecting shifting of the belt |46 from the idler pulley |42 to the pulley |36 having driving connections through gears |66, |62 to the shaft |28 by which the conveyor belt I6 is driven independently of the work clamping means. As heretofore stated, this independent driving of the conveyor belt I I6 is for the purpose of spreading out a work piece which has been thrown on the belt while the operator holds one end of said work piece. When or as soon as the work piece has been spread `out satisfactorily, the operator steps a second time on the treadle |66 the result being that the pawl 214 engages the tooth 264 (which was left in. front of the operative end of the pawl 214 as a result of the first depression of the treadle. as stated above) and carries the toothed ratchet member 216 through 180? so that the shaft 216 is rotated clockwise, that is. in the same direction as before, to move the eccentric 266 thereon 186 from the position it was left in at the end of the first depression of the treadle. that is, with the eccentric pointing toward the pivot 266. Hence, further rotation of the eccentric in the same direction swings the shipper shaft 266 in a counterclockwise direction in Figs. 2 and 12 and through a distance twice as great as that produced by the first depression of the treadle, the result being that the shipper moves the belt |46 from the pulley |66 across the idler pulley |42 to the pulley |44, thereby throwing in the driving mechanism for the sprocket chains |66 and |16 and thus initiating movement of in Fig. 6, the work clamping device is automatically released through the cooperation of cam roll 2|6 and cam face 2|6. as before stated. In addition, the drive for the sprocket chains |66 and |16, and therefore of the 'slide |61 and belt H6. is also automatically terminated, this being accomplished by a cam member 666 (Figs. 2, 4, 6. 1. 9 and 12) nxed to the slide member I6I and operative to engage a roller 662 on a lever arm 264 pivoted at 666 on the machine frame and having an adjustably extensible link connection 366 with a rotary pawl carrying member 3 I 6 (Fig. l2) rotatable on the shaft 216. When the roll 362 wasf cammed out, against the yielding resistance of a spring lII (Figs. 9 and l2), to the position shown in Fig. 12, the member 6|6, together with its Pawi 612 is caused to rotate the shaft 216 through 60 by engagement of said pawl 2|2 with a. tooth 3|4 on a toothed ratchet member 6|6 similar to the ratchet member 216 at the lower end of the same shaft. lThis movement of the shaft 216 brings it back to its position shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, such movement of the shaft 216 resulting in rotary movement of the shipper shaft 256 in a clockwise direction to bring the shipper lever 262 to the neutral position shown in Fig. 2, it being understood that this movement of the shipper 262, at the end of the return movement of the work clamping device |66 and its Carrying slide I6| to their initial positions of rest, is accompanied by shifting of the belt |46 from the pulley |44 to the idler pulley |42. Hence the belt I|6 is left at rest in its initial position.

In operating the illustrated machine, the worker will introduce each work piece by throwing it upon theupper surface of the conveyor belt ||6 while the work clamping device is in the inoperative position shown in Figs. l and 6, it being noted in this connection that the conveyor belt II6 extends to the right in Fig. l beyond the adjacent end of the work clamping device |66 and the work clamping device |66. including the slide member I6I. Such movement of the slide member I6I results in movement of the work clamping member 2I6, 266 to cooperative position with respect to the work clamping member 224 on the slide member |66, whereby both the Work piece and the belt I I6 are clamped to the slide member. Hence, the belt is positively driven together with the work piece to eect movement of the latter toward the work treating rolls 26, 22 and subsequently away therefrom.

When the' work clamping device, together with its supporting slide member I6 The worker may then step on the treadle |66 thereby causing operation of the belt driving means with the result that the upper run of the belt moves toward the work treating rolls 26, 22. During this time, the operator retains control of the work piece, usually holding one end thereof so that such Work piece is spread out'in fully attended condition due to the friction of the traveling belt. As soon as he is satisfied with the extended condition of the work piece. the treadle |66 is again depressed, thereby disconnectlng the belt driving means and initiating operation of the driving mechanism for reciprocation of the slide I6| through the endless sprocket chains |66, |16. As

soon as the slide |61 starts moving in the drectlon of the rolls 26, 22, the work clamping device including the pad member 236 is lowered upon the work piece to clamp the latter to the belt |I6 and to clamp both beitI and work piece to the work clamping surface 224 on the slide member I6I. As before stated, such clamping -of the belt to the slide |6| has the effect of driving the belt I I6 through the slide I6 I. Hence the belt is moved first toward the work treating rolls 26, 22 and then away therefrom during reciprocation of the slide. During the ilrst part of this movement the work piece is fed into the bite of the rolls 26, 22 while the latter are revolving in the direction of the arrowsV (Figs. l and 3) The said rolls continue their rotation in the same direction while the work piece is drawn back again as the slide |6I moves toward the right in Figs. 1

and 3, and finally returns to its initial position in which the work clamping member is released and the belt brought torest. The operator then withdraws the work piece, reverses it end to end. and introduces it a second time into the machine to complete the treatment thereof. It will be seen that all portions oi a work piece are thoroughly staked, by being twice operated upon, without subjecting the work piece to such pressure as would be likely to result in injury.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire t secure by Letters Patent oi' the United States is:

l. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, and leather, a rotary work treating member, a movable ymember cooperating with the rotary member to effect treatment of both sides of a work piece. means upon which such work piece may be spread, such means being spaced from the treatment zone between said work treating members during treatment of the work piece and arranged for feeding the work piece to the said members and for feeding it in the reverse direction during continued operation of the rotary member, whereby said work piece receives treatment during movement of the work piece in both directions, and means for clamping the work piece relative to the work feeding means.

2. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, and leather, a pair of cooperating rotary work treating members between which a work piece may be introduced for treatment, and means spaced at all times from the treatment zone between said rotary members for holding and also moving such work piece into the bite of said rotary treating members and then in the opposite direction with respect to said members during continued operation of the latter, whereby the work piece receives double treatment. said spaced means including a surface for supporting the work piece in extended condition.

3. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, and leather, a pair of cooperating rotary work treating members between which a work piece is introduced for treatment, an endless conveyor belt for supporting a work piece in extended condition, said conveyor belt being spaced with respect to said members and having its operative work supporting run ending closely adjacent said members, a work clamping device for holding the work piece against displacement with respect to said conveyor belt, and means for driving said conveyor belt and work clamping device toward the rotary members to feed the work piece into the bite of said members for treatment thereby and then in the reverse direction to feed the work piece away from said rotary members during continued operation oi' the latter upon said work piece, whereby the latter receives double treatment by said members.

4. In a machine tor operating upon hides, skins, and leather, a pair of upper and lower rotary work treating members between which a work piece may be introduced for treatment, and motor driven means for spreading and retaining such work piece including a work clamping device, said means being arranged to move such work piece into the bite of said rotary treating members and then in the opposite direction with respect to said members during continued operation o! the latter whereby the work piece receives double treatment on both sides.

5. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins. and leather, a pair o! meshing upper and lower rotary work treating members between which a work piece is introduced for treatment by both i rotary membersr a conveyor belt for 'supporting a work piece in extended condition, a work clamping device for holding the work piece against displacement with respect to said conveyor belt, and means lor driving said conveyor belt and work clamping device toward said rotary members to feed the work piece by itself into the bite `bt said meshing members for treatment thereby and then in the reverse direction to feed the work piece away from said rotary members during continued operation of the latter whereby said work piece receives double treatment by said members.

6. A machine constructed in accordance with claim 5 characterized by the fact that means is provided for automatically rendering said work clamping device inoperative upon its return to its initial position.

7. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, and leather, a pair ot upper and lower rotary work treating members between which a work piece is introduced for treatment, a conveyor belt operative to support a work piece in extended condition, means for driving said conveyor belt to cause the upper run thereof to move toward said rotary members thus eecting spreading out ot a work piece while the rear end thereof is held by the operator. a'work clamping rdevice operative to clamp the work piece against said conveyor belt, mechanism for driving said clamping device whereby said conveyor belt and the work piece clamped thereon are moved toward said rotary members, and means under manual control'i'or initiating operation of the belt driving means and subsequently to initiate operation of the driving means for said work clamping'device and the simultaneous disconnection of the driving means i'or the said belt.

8. A machine constructed in accordance with claim 7 in winch means is provided under control of a treadle i'or shitting from the driving means for the belt to the driving mechanism for the work clamping device.

9. A machine constructed according to claim 'l in which said work clamping device. together with the clamped work piece and belt. are driven by endless chains turning about sprocket wheels at the upper ends ot driven vertical shafts.

10. In a staking machine for tanned hides and skins, a work treating roll having helically arranged blades extending in opposite directions from a substantially median point in the length of the roll, said blades being substantially rigid but having resilient working faces, a cooperating roll having helically arranged blades covered with yieldable material to engage the opposite surface the work piece and to press it into engagement with the blades o! the work treating roll, and means for feeding the work piece into the -bite oi' said rolls and then in the reverse direction during continued rotation oi' said rolls in work treating operations upon said work piece,

whereby the work piece receives treatment while moving in reverse directions.

Il. In a staking machine for tanned hides and skins, a work treating roll having helically arranged blades extending in opposite directions from a substantially median point in the length of the roll, said blades being substantially rigid but having hard and resilient working faces, a cooperating presser roll also having helically arranged blades to engage the opposite surface of the work piece and to press it into engagement with the blades of the work treating roll, and a skins, a work treating roll having helically arranged blades extending in opposite directions.

from a substantially median point in the length of the roll, said blades being substantially rigid and having working faces including yielding spring means. a presser roll having helically arranged blades arranged to press a work piece into engagement with the spring means of the work treating roll, and a covering for the helical blades of the presser roll, said covering being of yielding material.

14. In a. machine for operating upon hides, skins, and leather, a rotary work treating tool, means cooperating with the rotary tool to effect treatment of the work piecefa conveyor belt for supporting a work piece 'in extended condition, a work clamping device operative to hold the work piece aaginst displacement with respect to the conveyor belt, a treadle, means under the control of the treadle for driving the conveyor belt, such movement of the belt serving to eitend the work piece fully in the direction of movement of the belt while said work piece is held at one end substantially stationary in space, means for operating the work clamping device to cause the latter to clamp the work piece to the belt and to move the latter toward the rotary tool, said driving means for the belt and said,operating means for the work clamping device comprising a driving belt and pulleys spaced from each other, an idler pulley between said driving pulleys, a shipper device to shift said driving belt from the idler pulley to one of the other pulleys to initiate driving of the conveyor belt, treadle controlled means to operate the shipper device to move said driving belt from the driving pulley for the conveyor belt acrossthe idler pulley to the driving pulley for the work clamping device. successive depressions of the treadle having the effect of moving said shipper device in opposite directions, and cam means movable with the work clamping device to move said shipper device to neutral position thereby to shift said driving belt to the idler pulley upon return of the work clamping device to initial position.

15. A machine constructed according to claim 14 in which a ratchet member is provided in operative relation to said shipper device, and means operated by the treadle to move said ratchet member thereby to move the shipper member thus initiating driving of the conveyor belt, means t return the ratchet member and the treadle to their initial positions, subsequent operation of the treadle and of said ratchet member in the same direction serving to move the shipper device in the reverse directions from one driving pulley to the other thus initiating driving of the worklamplng device to feed the work piece in said reverse directions.

16. A machine constructed according to claim 14 in which a second ratchet member is provided in operative relation to said shipper, and means operated by the treadle to move the first-mentioned ratchet member thereby to move the shipper member thus initiating driving of the conveyor belt and subsequently driving of the work clamping device following a second operation of the treadle, means operated by said cam on the work clamping device to operate said second ratchet member thereby to move the shipper to neutral position and at the same time condition the nist-mentioned ratchet member so that subsequent operation 0f the treadle will` initiate driving oi the conveyor belt.

17. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, and leather, a rotary work treating tool. means cooperating with the rotary tool to eil'ect treatment of the work piece. a conveyor belt for supporting a work piece in extended condition. a work clamping device operative to hold. the work piece against displacement with respect to the,

conveyor belt. means for driving the conveyor belt, such movement of the belt serving to extend the work piece fully in the direction of movement of the belt while one end of the work piece is held.substantially stationary in space, means for operating the work clamping device to cause the latter to clamp the work piece to the belt and to move the latter in directions toward and from the rotary tool. said driving means for the belt and for the work clamping device comprising a power shaft, a treadle under control of the operator having connections to initiate driving or the conveyor belt from said power shaft and subsequently driving oi.' the work clamping device from said power shaft, and cam means movable with the work clamping device and arranged through said connections to render the power shaft inoperative for the purposes mentioned upon return of the work clamping device to initial position.

18. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, and leather, s. rotary work treating tool, means cooperatingwith the rotary tool to eiect treatment of the work piece, a conveyor belt for supporting a work piece in extended condition, a. work clamping device operative to hold the work piece against displacement with respect to the conveyor belt, a manually operable controller member, means i'or driving the conveyor belt, such movement o1' the belt serving to extend the work piece fully in the direction of movement of the belt while one end of said work piece is held substantially stationary in space, means for operating the work clamping device to cause the latter to clamp the work piece to the belt and to move the latter in directions toward and from the rotary tool, said driving means for the belt and said operating meansfor the work clamping device comprising pulleys spaced from each other. an idler pulley between such driving pulleys, a source of power comprising a driving belt engageable with said idler pulleywhen the machine is not working, a shipper device to shift said driving belt, said controller member having operative movement in one direction only and having connections to operate the shipper device to move said driving belt from the idler pulley to the driving pulley for the conveyor belt and subsequently across the idler pulley to the other driving pulley to operate the work clamping device. and cam means movable with the work clamping device to shift said driving belt to the idler pulley upon return of the work clamping device to initial position.

19. In a machine for operating upon hides. skins, and leather, a rotary work treating tool.

meanscoopcratingwiththerotaryiooltoeect treatment of the work piece. a member for supporting a work piece, a work clamping device,

means for moving said work supporting member.4 i mechanism for operating the work clamping device to shii't the driving belt from the idler pulley to one of theother pulleys to initiate movement oi' the work supporting member, and treadle controlled means to operate the shipper device to move saiddriving belt from the driving pulley ior the work supporting member across the idler pulley tothe driving pulley for the work'clamping device, said treadle controlled means including an eccentric rotatable always in the same direction to cause movements oi said shipper device in opposite directions during successive depressions oi the treadle by the operator.

20. In a machine i'or operating upon hides. skins. and leather. a rotary work treating member. a support for a. work piece. means for moving said support. a mechanism for moving said work support toward and from said rotary member, a driving mechanism including an idler pulley, a driving pulley on each side of the idler pulley and a driving belt ahlftable from one pulley to another in thdlset o: three pulleys. a shipper device for said beit including an eccentric rotatable always in the same direction to cause movement oi' the lhipper device to shift the driving beit lnopposite directions. connections between the work support moving means and one oi' the driving pulleys and also between the work support moving mechanism and the other driving pulley, and s treadle having 4connections to said shipper device and operable upon successive depressions thereof to enect shifting oi' said driving belt in opposite directions to cause in succession driving by said pulleys of the'work Vsupport moving means and the work support moving mechanism.

2l. In( a machine for treating materials such as hides, skins, or leather. a main machine trame. a pair oi meshed rotary work treating rolls mounted on said trame, said rolls being provided with yielding surfaces.` a conveyor beit movable on said trame i'or spreading out a work piece while said work piece is held at one edge by the operator. means to clamp the spread out work piece to thebelt. means for driving the belt to feed the vork Moe to thebite oi' therolls and then to withdraw it therefrom and to return the work piece toward the operators position, and

meansioreieasetheclampingmeansduringthe return movement of the work piece.

CUTLER D. KNOWLTON. 

